Multiple-vending machine.



G. W. MILLER. MULTIPLE VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 29,1912. 1,050,675, Patented Jan; 14, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

G. W. MILLER. MULTIPLE VENDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 29, 1912.

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MULTIPLE VENDING MACHINE. APPLIGATIONIILED FEB.29,1912.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

Patented Jan. 14,1913.

ED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. MILLER, 01 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

MULTIPLE-VENDING MACHINE.

, To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE \V. MILLER, citizen of the United States,residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State ofCalifornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMultiple- Yending Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to vending machines, and particularly to vendingmachines adapted to be actuated upon the insertion of a coin.

The object of my-present invention is to provide a vending machine inwhich a plurality of difi'erent articles may be vended from differentcompartments, and wherein the articles to bevended are-retained in astationary position atall' times, thus permitting the machine to be forvendingdelicate articles such as food stuffs, liquids, etc, which would,be damaged by being constantly shifted and by being discharged from themachine in the usual manner.

Another object of my invention is to provide a vending machine having acompartment or compartments provided. with stationary article holdingshelves, and to provlde in connection therewith a serlcs .of

linked screening members movable in a path 'in front of said shelves,certain of said screening members being provided with glass paneswhereby the articles to be vendeol and resting upon the shelves may beseen, certain of the screening members being opaque so as to conceal theshelves behind them, thus indicating that the articles have been soldfrom those shelves and the shelves are empty, and one of the screeningmembers forming a gate and being provided with a delivery openingmovable into positions opposite successive shelves, whereb to permitarticles to be removed from the s ielf opposite to which the gate isdisposed at any particular time.

A further object is to provide in connection with the screenin membersabove referred to, means where y when the articles have been sold fromall of the shelves and the entire compartment is empty, a notice may bepresented showing that all articles have been disposed of, andwhereby-the insert-ion of an actuating coin may be prevented,

Another object of my invention ,is to provide in connection with thefired. Shelves I Specification of Letters Patent. Application filedFebruary 29, 19.12.

Patented Jan. 14, 1913. Serial No. 680,635.

above referred to, slidable supporting members capable of being attachedto said shelves and forming a false back to the same, these slidablemembers being provlded, each with means for supporting articles to besold, the slidable members bemg so arranged that by moving them outwardor inward, the depth of the shelf may. be regulated.

Another object is to provide in connection with the slidable membersabove described, means attached thereto for supporting various smallarticles in position to be readily withdrawn through the gate openingpreviously referred to. s

, Another object is to improve the general construction of vendingmachines of this character and so form them that the severalcompartments in which the several varieties of articles being vended arecontained may be entirely separated from each other so, that one articlecan not be contaminated by another article contained in the samemachine.

Other objects will appear in the course of the followingdescri tion. X

My invention is i lustratedfin the accompanying drawin wherein:

Figure 1 1s a ront elevation ofa vending machine of the character abovedescribed, the compartment at the ri ht hand end of the machine being insection to show the vending mechanism. Fig. 2 is a transverse section onthe line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontalsection of the forward end of one compartment, the sprocket chainsdisposed on each 'side thereof, and one of the screening sect-ions. Fig.

4 is an enlarged vertical section on the line 44 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is anenlarged fragmentary vertical section on the line 55 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6is detail perspective view of the sprocket chains, the sprocket wheelsover which the chains pass, and the screening members carried upon thesprocket chains. Fig. 7 is a perspectivedetail view of one of the setsof shelves forming one of the compartments of the ve'ndingymachine and 7an adjacent partition. Fig. 8 is a vertical. fragmentary sectional viewshowing two of the shelves of the compartment and also showing insection one ofthe article displaying adjustable members mounted upon theshelfc Fig; 9 is a perspective detall view of one of the articledisplaying adjust various parts being separated from each other. Fig. 10is a perspective view of that one of the screening members designed toclose the coin slot and display the word Out as an indication that thegoods contained within a particular compartment are entirely sold. Fig..11 is a perspective view of one of the display slides for indicatingthe character of goods contained within any one compartment. Fig. 12 isan elevation of the main actuating shaft 11, the sleeves 12 thereon andthe sprocket wheels 13. Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the gate platelooking from the inside.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescrlption and indicated in all the views of the accompanying drawingsby the same reference characters. Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and2, it will be seen that the outsidecasing of my vending machine which isdesignated 2 comprises a top, bottom and a back, and that the front ofthe vending machine is so formed as to provide a plurality of verticallyextending openings designated '3 having nearly the same length as theheight of the machine and defining panels 3 Dividing the interior of thecasing '2 into a plurality of compartments, are the partitions'5 whichare preferably of metal, but not necessarily so, and which may be ofskeletonicconstruction if desired. In the illustration of my invention,a vending machine is shown having four compartments for different kindsof articles, but of course I do not wish to limit myself to anyparticular number of vending compartments as the vending machineconstructed in accordance with my invention may be expanded orcontracted to any degree required to suit the exigencies of anyparticular case.

Disposed within each of the compartments and supported in any suitablemanner are a series of shelves, each of these shelves being designated,6. These shelves extend from near the front of the machine to near therear of the machine and are spaced any desired distance apart, dependingupon the article to be vended. The shelves are supported upon thevertical plates 7 (see Fig. 7), and these in turn are supported from thepartitions 5 or, in the case of the end compartments, from the adjacentpartition 5 and the end wall of the machine, as illustrated in therighthand end of Fig. 1. As

illustrated, the plates 7 are supported by means of a plurality ofU-shaped brackets 8, these brackets having downwardly turned ends whichare bolted respectively to the plates 7 and to the adjacent partition 5or to the end wall of the machine, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and7. It will be seen from Fi 1 that the end plates, 7 are less in length tan the height of the vending compartment, and that they are supported sothat the ends of the end plates 7 do not touch the bottom or the top ofthe compartment, this being necessary in order to pro- 'vide room forthe screening members or shields carried by sprocket chains to pass overand under the upper and lower ends respectively of the shelves andplates 7.

- Mounted in the upper end of each of the compartments is a shaft 9extending transversely across the compartment. Preferably eachcompartment is provided with a separate shaft but I do not wish to limitmyself to this as it is obvious that one shaft might pass through theentire series of compartments. Where separate shafts are used asillustrated in Fig. 1, sprocket wheels 10 are fixed upon the shaft androtate therewith, the shaft 9 being mounted in suitable journal boxescarried upon the partition plates. Where, however, one single shaft isused extending entirely through the machine, then the sprocket wheels 10are rotatably mounted upon this shaft so that each pair of sprocketwheels 10 is capable of independent rotation with relation to any otherpair. This construction is fully illustrated in my pending applications,Serial No. 655,923, filed on the 21st day of October, 1911, and Ser. No.627,568 of May 16, 1911.

Extending through the lower end of the vending machine is an actuatingshaft 11. This shaft extendsthrough and is common to all of the vendingcompartments and carries upon it a series of sleeves 12, one for each ofthe compartments, each sleeve 12 carrying upon it the oppositelydisposed sprocket wheels 13 placed in alinement with the correspondingpair of sprocket wheels 10. Sprocket chains 14; pass over the sprocketwheels 10 and 13. Means whereby any one of the sleeves 12 may beoperatively connected to the actuating shaft 11 will be later described.It is sufficient to say in this place that by dropping a coin in thecoin chute corresponding to any desired vending compartment, thecorrespondin set of sprocket Wheels 13 will be operatively connected tothe shaft 11, so that upon a rotation of the shaft 11 the proper set ofsprocket chains will be shifted.

Carried 'upon the sprocket chains and movable with them across the frontand rear of the shelves 6 are a series of metallic plates formingshutters or screen members, these plates being connected at their endsto the sprocket chains 13 and movable therewith across the fronts of theseveral shelves 6.

There are more than twice as many plates 17 and the solid plates orshutters 15 as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6.

When the shelves of a column of shelves are entirely filled with thearticles to be vended, and no article has been vended from thatparticular compartment, the parts are so disposed that the gate plate 18is immediately above the uppermost shelf of the series and doesnot showat the front of the machine. At this time all of the plates providedwith the transparent panels are dis-' posed along the front of themachine so that the contents of all of the shelves may be observed,while the imperforate, opaque plates 15 are at the back of the shelvesand therefore concealed.

In the operation of my invention, the connected series of plates 15,16and 17 will have a step by stepmotion so that the gate plate 18 willmove successively in front of successive spaces or compartments definedby the shelves 6, and that as the contents are removed froin a shelf andthe gate plate 18 shifted downward, the imperforate, opaque plates 15forming the shutters as before described will also shift downward andclose all the shelf space abovethe gate plate 18, while the unremovedcontents on the shelves below the gate plate 'will be displayed throughthe glass panes 17 of the plates 16.

It will be noted that only the shelves containing unsold articles willbe displayed, and that the gate plate will always be opposite an emptyshelf, and that all the other empty shelves will be closed by theimperforate plates.

Each of the plates 15, 16 and 18 has practically the same general form,that is, it has a middle portion 20 which extends entirely across thefront of the opening 3 in the compartment, this middle portion be inginwardly bent as at 21 and then being provided with the outwardly turnedterminal flanges 22 and 23, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 3, 6 and 10.These flanges 22 and 23 extend under the panels 3 which define the sidewalls of the opening 3, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3, the middleportion of each of the plates 15,16 and 18 projecting outward throughthe opening 3. This projection of the panel is somewhat exaggerated inthe figures, but it is sufficient to provide a space for the plates 15,

16 and 18 to clear the front edges of the shelves'6 and bring the frontof each of these This plate 18 which forms plates in approximatealinement with' the front of thecasing 2.

While I do not wish to limit myself to any particular manner ofattaching these plates or screening members to the sprocket chains 14, Ipreferably providethe flange 22 with the angle clip 24 which is rivetedto the side of the sprocket chain and also riveted to the flange 22, andprovide the flange 23 with an angle clip 25, also riveted to the flangeand to the inside face of the adjacent sprocket chain link. It will ofcourse be understood that each plate is attached to only one link ofeach of the sprocket chains 14, and that if each of these plates-is sowide as to overlap an adjacent link or links, it is not attached tothese adjacent links or link. This permits the chains and the connectedplates 15, 16 and 18 flexing as the chains and plates pass over thesprocket wheels. Preferably each plate is attached at its upper end tothe corresponding link of a sprocket chain.

The upper and lower edges of the shutter plates always begin and end ata bending point in the chain, that is, in the center be chain so as topermit it to flex properly.

In order to provide means for indicating that all of the articlesdisposed on the shelves of one compartment'have been sold out, and alsoto prevent the insertion of a coin for actuating a compartment whosecontents have been entirely sold out, I provide one of the imperforateopaque plates or shutters 15 with the word .Out or a correspondingcharacter or word, displayed upon the flange 22 as in Fig. 10, and alsoprovide this flangev 22 with an outwardly projecting lug or shield 26.Each of the panels 3 is provided with an opening 27 through which theword Out will be displayed when all of the contents of a compartmenthave beensold. There is also provided in each of the panels 3 a coinslot 28 located adjacent to the opening 27', and when all of thecontents of a compartment have been'so'ld, the panel containing the wordOut will be moved to such position that the word Out will be displayedthrough the opening 27, while the lug or shield 26 will move intoposition behind the coin slot 28, thus obstructing the coin slot andpreventing the insertion of a coin. The panel 3 is also provided at anysuitable point with a discharge opening or slot 29 whereby bad coins maybe discharged, or

coins of too small a denomination, and each panel is also provided atthe lower end of the compartment with a locked door 30 by whichthe-money deposited in thecoin slot f 28 may be removed from themachine. It will be understood that the particular coi-nactuating'mechanism to secure the operation of the shaft 11 may be ofany suit-able character and does not form part of my present invention.Furthermore, that any suitable 'coin discharging mechanism may be used.

It is necessary where a vending machine is provided havingcompartmentsfor the sale of different articles, that means be provided forsupporting small articles at or near the forward ends of the shelves 6,said means being capable of removal so that 5 large articles may beplaced upon the shelves. 1n the illustration of my invention shown inFig.1, one of the compartments is intended to vend boxes of lunch.Another compartment is intended to vend fruit, while still anothercompartment is intended to vend such small articles asstamps, pens,stationery or the like. In order to hold these small articles at thefront of the shelves, I provide the attachment shown in Figs. 8 and 9,this attachment comprising a false back to the shelf, so mounted as tobe shiftable towardor from the front of the shelf, and so constructed asto easily support such articles as stamps, pens, penholders, note paperetc.

In Fig. 9, designates a followerplate which forms as shown in Fig. 8, afalse back to one of the shelves 6. This follower plate has an extension31 bent back from its upper edge which is adapted to contact with theshelf above the shelf over which the follower plate moves. The extension31 is longitudinally slotted as at 32, and passing through this slot isa bolt 33. The extremity of this bolt is reducedas at'34 and the mainbody of .the bolt and this reduced extremity are both screw threaded.

Operating upon the main body of the bolt is the nut 35 formed with theradiating wings, and operating upon the reduced extremity 33 is the locknut 36: The nut 36 is a limiting nut to prevent the nut 35 from beingturned completely off the bolt. The nut 35 may be loosened by turning itup until it reaches the stop nut 36, and thus the connection between theextension 31 and the shelf may be loosened to permit the plate 30 to beshifted backward or forward to any desired position upon the shelf,after which the nut 35 may be again turned up so as to hold the plate 30in its adjusted position. The nut 35' is provided with the radiatingwings to permit the nut to be operated by means of any suitableimplement introduced from the front of the shelf through a notch 37formed in the lower edge of the plate 30. It will be understood that byintroducing an instrument through this notch 37, the bolt for the plate30 of the shelf beneath is released. This plate 30,

therefore, acts to a certain extent as a shield for the nuts of the boltbeneath, and while an instrument such as a nail, screw-driver etc., maybe introduced through the notch 37 and used to turn the nut 35, yetthese implements will not avail. to turn the nut 36.

In order to remove the plate 30 entirely, the nut 35 is loosened and theplate 30 is turned at right angles. The set nut 36 is then removed, thenut 35 turned entirely off, and the device entirely removed.

The front of the plate 30 preferably is provided with means forsupporting small articles. As illustrated, a central support is providedconsisting of a strip of metal bent at right angles to form a holderdesig nated 38. This holder isprovided with the marginal flanges 39 forholding stamps and the like, the stamps being bowed and then insertedbetween these flanges. The rear of the angular plate 38 is punched outas at- 40. The plate 30 is also punched out immediately behind the hole40, but the tongue 41 so punched out of the plate 30 is bent upward, asillustrated in Fig. 8, this tongue so bent forming a pocket adapted tocontain pens, pins or'other small articles. This tongue also serves as aguard to prevent articles deposited in the opening 40 from being pushedtoo far in. On each side of 'the supporting member 38 are located thespring clips 42 which are adapted to support cards, penholders, pencilsor the like.

In orderathat the plate 30 may be held firmly in either its forward orits rearward position, the plate 30 is provided with the upwardlyprojecting spurs or lugs 44, There are preferably a pair of these spurs,and each shelf is provided with two pairs of indentations 45 into whichthe spurs 44 may engage when the plate is in either its forward or itsrearward position. These indentations 45, therefore, will indicate theposition for the forward or rearward movement of a plate, and also willhold the plate 30 in just the right place.

It is to be understood that the opening 37 in the lower edge of theplate 30 is not of such dimensions as to permit the insertion of a rodover the top of the bolt 33. It is also plain that even if the plate 30was mischievously removed in the manner before mentioned, no particularharm would be done to the machine. This movable plate 30 is obviously ofgreat convenience Serial No. 655,923, filed on the 21st day of October,1911. There are as many of these actuating mechanisms as there arecompartments, as plainly shown in Fig. 2. Each actuating mechanism isnormally disconnected from the shaft 11 but may be operatively engagedtherewith upon the deposit. of the propercoin in the corresponding coinslot 28. As illustrated, each actuating mechanism comprises a ratchetwheel designated 46 which is fixedly mounted on the corresponding sleeve12. The shaft 11' passes loosely through this sleeve and carries upon itan outwardly projecting arm27 having an arcuate head 48 at its outerend. Mounted upon one end of. thishead is a pivoted curved pawl 49, thelower end ofwhich is formed with .a tooth 50 adapted to engage aratchetnotch 51 formed in the wheel 46.

The end of the pawl 49 opposite the tooth 50 is of such weight thatnormally the toothed end of the pawl 49 is held out of engagement withthe notch 51. Under these circum stances, it will be seen that the shaft11 may be rotated without in any wise affecting the wheel 46.

Rotatably mounted upon the head 48 immediately beneath the weighted endof the pawl 49 is an eccentric 52 having a projecting finger 53. A coinchute 54 leads down from the coin slot 27 and discharges into the lowerend of the "compartment. This coin chute at one point of its course istransversely slotted as at 55, and mounted upon the head 48 is a pin 56which normally extends into this slot. This pin 56 extends under theforward end of the nose or arm 53 projecting from the eccentric 52. Whena coin is deposited in the chute, it falls upon a support within thechute disposed below the slot 55, and in that position when the arm 47is forced over by a rotation of the crank handle on end of shaft 11, thepin 56 willpush down against the upper edge'of the coin, raise the armor nose 53, rotate the eccentric 52, raise up the counterweighted end ofthe pawl 49, and force the toothed end of the pawl into engagement withthe notch 51. Thus upon a continued rotation of the shaft 11, the wheel46 will turn with the rotation of the arm 49, and the chains 14 and hasbeen turned the full length of its travel in one direction, and meansmust then be provided for releasing this engagement between the pawl andthe wheel so as to per- 'one of the compartments.

mit the arm 47 to be turned back to its former positlon. It is notbelieved, howmechanism actuated upon the deposit of a I coin forconnecting the sprocket chains with pulling outany of the articlesresting upon the shelf below the delivery gate.

Preferably all of the shutter plates are provided with these inwardlyprojecting flanges 19 in order that the shutter plates may abut againstthe ends of the shelves so as to prevent the linked shutters from beingforced inward. It will be obvious, however, that other-means might beprovided for obtaining this object. 4

Of course, any desired means may be used whereby to indicate thecharacter of the articles vended in each of the compartments. I haveshown, however, each of the compartments as provided. at its upper endwith an indicating card, designated 57 and illustrated-in Fig. 11. Thiscard 'or plate may be made of any suitable material and is adapted to beinserted through a slot 58 in the top of the casing immediately overeach This card or plate is provided with a lug having therein aperforation 59 through which a padlock may be fastened to locktheindicating card or plate in place as illustrated in Fig. 1.

It will be obvious that the invention may be varied in many ofthedetails of construction-here shown without departing from its spirit,and that various modifications may be made in the form and constructionof the several parts in order to adapt the device to vending variousarticles. It is also to be particularly noted that each compartment iscompletely separated from the next adjacent compartment by means of thepartitions 5 so that articles of food for instance which may becontained in one compartment will not contaminate or be contaminated bythe food in thenext adjacent compartment. Furthermore, in thisconnection it will be seen that the food or other articles placed uponthe shelves is separated from the ing plates 7. Thus oil or otherlubricant which may be upon the sprocket chains and which may be used inthe coin actuating mechanism, by no chance can come in contact with thefood. Of course, the uppermost shelf of the series of shelves 6 need notbe used, in which case this shelf will form a protection and prevent oilor any other lubricant from falling uponthe articles upon the shelves.The articles are protected from dust by reason of the fact that all ofthe filled shelves are closed at their rear ends by the imperforateshutter plates and at their forward ends by means of the plates havingthe glass observation panes therein.

It will be noted particularly from Figs. 1, 4 and 5 that the front ofthe casing above and below the slot 3 is outwardly bowed or deflected sothat the shutter plates entirely clear the front of the casing at thepoint where the shutter plates turn over the upper and lower sprocketwheels. This also provides for a perfectly straight runof the shutterplates from the upper end of the slot to the lower end thereof.

In order to provide for moving one set of shutter plates through aspace, say of three inches, while another set of shutter plates willmove through a space of five ,inches upon each actuation or step of theactuating shaft 11, and thus provide for one of the vertical sets ofcompartments having three inch delivery openings, while another of thevertical sets is provided with say a five inch delivery opening, Iprovide that the upper and lower sprocket wheels of each set shall havedifferent diameters as illustrated in Fig. 11. Thus for relativelyshallow shelves, that is, shelves spaced from each other a shortdistance, comparatively small sprocket wheels 10 and 13 are used. Wherethere is considerable distance between the shelves, a relatively largesprocket wheel is used. For instance, for a compartment having a threeinch delivery opening, there is provided a sprocket wheel having sixteenteeth, say for illustration, and hung with its periphery two inchesinwardly from the front casing, its center, however, being the shaft 11.Another compartment having a greaterheight between the shelves isprovided with a larger set of sprocket wheels, these however being madewith sixteen teeth as were the first named sprocket wheels and hung onthe same center shaft, but its periphery reaching nearly flush with thefront casing. Under these circumstances, it will be obvious thatone-eighth revolution by the main operating arm on the shaft 11 willmove each wheel the distance of two teeth, and that the teeth beingspaced evenly give the required results. The variation in distancebetween the peripheries of these sprocket wheels having differentdiameters,

and the outer casing or the shutters moving" along the outer casing, istaken care of by lengthening the angle clips 24 and 25 sufficiently toaccommodate the required distance. The flanges 19 will be regulatedaccordingly, depending upon the distance of the perlphery of thesprocket wheels from the rout of the casing.

What I claim is:

1. A vending machine including a casing having a series of shelvestherein defining a series of compartments, a screen extending across allof said compartments and being provided intermediate of its ends with adelivery opening, the screen being movable in a path traversing all ofsaid compartments to bring the dellvery opening successively oppositeeach one of said compartments.

2. A vending machine including a casing having a series of shelvestherein defining a series of compartments, a flexible screen extendingacross all of said compartments and being provided intermediate its endswith a delivery opening, the screen being movable in a path traversingall of said compartments to bring the delivery opening successivelyopposite each of sald compartments.

3. A vending machine including a casing having a series of shelvestherein defining a j series of compartments, an endless flexible screenextending around all of said compartments and across the front and rearends thereof, said screen being provided with a delivery opening, thescreen being movable in a path traversing all of said compartments tobring the delivery opening opposite'any desired compartment.

4. A vending machine including a casing having a series of shelvestherein defining a series of compartments, a screen extending across allof said compartments and being provided intermediate its ends with adelivery opening, and means for moving the screen step by step in a pathtraversing all of said compartments to bring the delivery openingsuccessively opposite each of said compartments.

5. A vending machine including a casing having a series of shelvestherein defining a series of compartments, a flexible screen extendingacross all of said compartments and composed of independent screenmembers flexibly connected to each other, each screen member beingflexibly connected to the adjacent screen member, one of said screenmembers located intermediate the ends of the screen being provided witha delivery opening, the screen being movable in a path traversing all ofsaid compartments to bring the delivery member successively in front ofeach of said compartments.

6. A vending machine including a casing having a series of shelvestherein defining a series of compartments, a flexible screen extendingacross the front of all of said com partments and comprising a series offlexibly connected screen members, certain of said members beingimperforate and opaque, certain others having transparent panels, andone of said members being formed with a delivery openin and beingdisposed between the series 0 opaque members and the members carryingtransparent panels.

7. A vending machine including a. casing having a series of shelvestherein defining a series of compart-ments, an endless flexible screenextending around said shelves and across the front and back of saidcompartments, said screen comprising a series of flexibly connectedscreen members, certain of said members equal innumber to the number ofcompartments being opaque, certain others equal in number-to the numberof compartments having transparentpanels, and one of said members beingformed with a delivery opening and being disposed between the series ofopaque members and the series of members carrying transparent panels,said screen being movable in a path traversing the fronts of all of saidcompartments to bring the delivery opening successively opposite each ofsaid compartments.

8. A vending machineincluding a casing having a seriesof shelves thereindefining a series of compartments, a flexible endless screen extendinaround the series of shelves and across the ronts and backs of said com-1 partments, said screen consisting of a series of independent, flexiblyconnected 'screen membersequal in number to twice the number ofcompartments, one of said members being formed with a delivery opening,said screen being movable in a path traversing all of said compartmentsto bring the'delivery opening successively opposite the front of eachcompartment.

9. A vending machine including a casing having an open front,-a screencomposed of independent, flexibly connected screen members, said screenhaving a length greater than the length of the open front of the casingone of said members located intermediate the ends of the screen beingprovided with a delivery opening, said screen being movable in a path.traversing the length of said casing to bring the delivery openingopposite any desired portion of the casing.

10. A vending machine including a casing having a series of shelvesthereindefinmg a series of compartments, endless flexible elementsdisposed on'each side of said set of shelves and extending above andbelow the same, a series of screen members attached to both of saidendless connections, one of said members being provided with a deliveryopening, the screen composed of said members being movable with theflexible connections in a path traversing the front and rear ends of allof saidcompartments to bring the delivery openingsuccessively oppositeeach ofsaid compartments. i

11 A vending machine having a casing having a series of shelves thereindefining a series of compartments, oppositely disposedsprocket wheelsarranged below the lower ends of said series of shelves, endless chainspassing over said sprocket wheels, screen members attached to saidchains and extending across the front and rear ends of the shelves, oneof said screenmembers being formed with a delivery opening, and meansfor giving a step by step movement to the sprocket chains whereby tocause the screen members to traverse the front ends of all of said,compartments to bring the delivery opening successively opposite eachcompartment.

U2. A vending machine including a casing having a vertically extendingopening in its frpnt, a vertically arranged series of shelves mountedwithin the casing opposite to said opening, said shelves defining aseries of compartments, a screen extending acrossthe fronts of all ofsaid compartments, said screen being formed of independent, flexiblyconnected screen members, each of said members extending on each sidebeyond said opening and having its lateral margins disposed. behind thefront wall of the casing on each side of the opening, one of said screenmembers being formed with a delivery opening, and means for giving thescreen a step by step movement in a path traversing the fronts of all ofsaid compartments to bring the delivery opening successively in front ofeach compartment.

13. A vending machine including a casing having a vertical opening inits front, a vertically arranged series of shelves within the casingopposite to said opening, said shelves defining a series ofcompartments, oppositely disposed endless flexible.connections mountedon each side of said shelves and extending above and below the same, aseries of screen members attached at their endsto said flexibleconnections and extending transversely of the compartments, each of saidscreen members comprising a plate having a middle portion projectingoutward through the opening in the casing, the end margins of the plateextending behind the casing on each side of the opening, one of providedat one point in its length with a member projecting laterally outwardbeyond the side margin of the screen, the movement of the screenbringing said member. opposite said slot to close the same whereby toindicate that the contents of the vending machine have been exhausted.

15. A vending machine including a casing having a vertical opening inits front wall and a slot disposed to one side of said opening, a seriesof shelves supported within said casing, said shelves defining a seriesof compartments, a flexible screen consisting of a series of flexiblyconnected screen members, one of said members being provided with adelivery opening and another of said members being provided with ashield at one end, said screen being movable in a path traversing thefronts of all of said compartments tobring the delivery opening oppositeany desired compartment and to bring the shield on said shield-carryingmember opposite the said slots to indicate that the contents of theshelves have been exhausted 16. A vending machine including a pluralityof superposed shelves defining a series of successive compartments, aplurality of plates, one for each compartment and forming a false backthereto, each plate having an angular extension, and means foradjustably engaging the angular extension of each plate with the shelfabove, the lower edge of each plate being cut away to provide an openingthrough which the adjustable connection of the shelf below may bereleased.

17 A vending machine including a casing provided with a longitudinalopening, the casing at one margin of the opening being formed with adisplay slot, a series of shelves Within the casing and defining aseries of compartments, a screen extending across all of saidcompartments and being provided with a delivery 0 ening, the screenbeing movable in a pat traversing the fronts of all of said compartmentsto bring the delivery opening opposite any desired compartment, saidscreen at one point in its length being provided with an outwardlyextending member movable in a path intersecting the display opening,whereby said member may be displayed through the slot to indicate thatthe vending compartments have been discharged of their contents.

18. A vending machine including a casing divided into a plurality ofmain compartments, the front of said casing opposite each of said maincompartments being formed with a longitudinal opening, a series ofshelves, one series for each of said main compartments and supportedtherein, endless flexible screens disposed, one in each compartment,each screen extending across the front of all of said shelves andclosing the open front of the casing, each of said screens being formedwith a delivery opening whereby the contents of any shelf may besecured, and means for giving any one of said screens a step by stepmovement independently of the other'screens to bring the deliveryopening successively in front of the space between any two shelves ofits corresponding compartment. g

19. A vending machine including spaced shelves defining a compartment, ascreen movable in front. of the compartment and formed with a deliveryopening, the solid portion of the screen having an area equal to theopening of the compartment so as to close the compartment when thescreen is in one position, and actuating means connectable with ordisconnectable from operative engagement with said screen.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE W. MILLER. [L.S.] Witnesses:

HERBERT H. THOMPSON, FRANK W. PATTERSON.

